Toothpick holder



Feb. 8, 1966 C. J. PEASE TOOTHPI GK HOLDER Filed Aug. 25, 1963 FIG. 5

FIG. 6

INVENTOR. CARL J. PEASE gw m ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fiice 3,233,724 Patented Feb. 8, 1956 3,233,724 TOOTHPICK HOLDER Carl J. Pease, Headquarters, Idaho 83534 Filed Aug. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 304,026 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-29) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toothpick holders and more particularly to a toothpick holder capable of being carried on the person.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a toothpick holder of the type described which is economical to manufacture and compact in structure whereby the device can be sold at a minimum price or given away by restaurants or like establishments.

Another object is to provide a toothpick holder of the type described which supports a plurality of toothpicks in a sanitary condition and in a condition which provides for easy removal of the toothpicks one at a time.

To accomplish the above objects, a holder is provided which is constructed of inexpensive parts, comprising sheets of paper which are folded and secured together in a novel manner to support a plurality of toothpicks in an enclosed, readily accessible position. The invention will be better understood and additional objects will become apparent from the following specification and claim, considered together with the accompanying drawings, wherein the numerals of reference indicate like parts and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a toothpick holder embodying the features of the present invention, portions of the holder in this view being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view showing in detail component parts of the present holder; and

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 comprise plan views of the component parts in blank form.

Referring first to FIGURES 36, the present holder is constructed of component parts 10, 12 and 14. Each of these parts preferably is constructed of sheet material, such as paper, in order that a lightweight, flat, and inexpensive holder may be provided.

The part 12 is disposed innermost and comprises a tip receiving member. It has a plurality of apertures or openings 16 disposed in a row along substantially its transverse center line. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, part 12 in the assembled condition of the holder is folded transversely on a fold line 13 which extends through the row of apertures 16. The part 12 is inverted when comprising a part of the holder wherein the free ends extend downwardly and its folded, apertured edge 13 comprises its top edge.

The part 10, similar to the part 12, has a plurality of apertures or openings 18 disposed in a row along substantially its transverse center line. These apertures correspond in number to the apertures 16 but are slightly larger. Part is folded transversely on a fold line 19 extending through its row of apertures 18, as seen in FIGURE 3, and when assembled as a component part of the holder is inverted similar to the part 12 wherein its free ends also extend downwardly and its folded, apertured edge 19 comprises its top edge. The part 10 has a greater longitudinal dimension than part 12 wherein the folded edge thereof is disposed substantially above the folded edge of the part 12. Apertures 16 are sufficiently large to receive the tip end of toothpicks T and apertures 18, being enlarged, receive the body of the toothpicks.

The part 14 has a central transverse fold line 20 and in the assembled condition of the holder this part is folded on said line and disposed in an upright position wherein the fold line 20' is at the bottom.

When the holder is assembled int-o a casing structure best seen in FIGURE 2, the part 10 lies outside the part 12 and in partial overlapping relation therewith, and the part 14 is outermost and in overlapping relation with the intermediate part 10. The folded edge 20 of part 14 closes the bottom end of the holder.

Each of the parts 10, 12 and 14 has glue areas 22 along the side edges thereof. These glue areas may be provided on the parts 10, 12 and 14 as the latter are formed or for purposes hereof may merely designate the area in which glue is applied to assemble the holder. The glue areas are along the edges of the inner surfaces of the parts, considering the folded condition of the latter, wherein in the completed condition of the holder the side edges of the part 12 are secured together; the side edges of the part It) are also secured together above the part 12 and where the parts 10 and 12 are overlapped the side edges of the former are secured to the outer surface of the latter; and the side edges of part 14 are secured the full length thereof to the outer surface of part 10. By this arrangement, the component parts of the holder are securely integrated to form. an upper compartment 24 and a lower compartment 26. Toothpicks 28 project downwardly through apertures 18 and 16 with the tips thereof being disposed in compartment 26. Compartments 24 and 26, and particularly the bottom compartrnent 26 which contains the tips of the toothpicks, are substantially sealed to provide a sanitary holder.

The outer surface of the holder is flat and unobstructed and therefore facilitates the printing of advertising data there-on.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention therein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A holder for toothpicks comprising a first strip of sheet material folded double with its fold edge disposed upwardly to form a top wall, said fold edge having a plurality of apertures therein, a second strip of sheet material folded double with its fold edge disposed upwardly, the fold edge of said second strip having apertures therein corresponding substantially in their spacing and number as well as being longitudinally aligned with the apertures in said first strip, said first strip being of greater longitudinal dimension than said second strip and being folded over the latter in a selected position to provide longitudinal spacing between the two sets of apertures, an outer strip of sheet material folded double to cover the sides of said first strip, the fold edge of said outer strip being disposed downwardly and forming a bottom wall, all of said strips being glued together adjacent the entire side edges thereof to form an enclosed casing, and a plurality of toothpicks mounted in said casing, said toothpicks projecting through the apentures in said first strip and having their tip ends projecting through the apertures in said second strip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,933,509 10/1933 Pullen 206-29 2,051,450 8/1936 Lu-bke 206-29 2,111,265 3/ 1938 Heckel 206-29 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

